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Montana State University salary estimate

$38,814yearly

$18.66 hourly rate

Entry-level salary
$21,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Montana State University Salaries Overview

The average salary for employees at Montana State University is $38,814 per year. This figure represents a broad spectrum of roles within the university, from academic positions to administrative support. Notably, salaries differ significantly by department, reflecting the varying responsibilities and demands of each role.

For instance, positions in research and development often command higher salaries compared to administrative roles. In our analysis, we’ve identified the highest-paying jobs at MSU, which help prospective employees understand where they can expect to earn more. This detailed salary breakdown also highlights the best-paying educational roles within the institution, showcasing the diverse opportunities available.

Understanding salary structures at Montana State University allows candidates to make informed decisions about their career paths. By examining departmental salaries, individuals can better gauge their potential earnings and align their career goals accordingly.

Highest paying jobs at Montana State University

The highest paying jobs at Montana State University are adjunct professor, assistant professor, stationary engineer, and data scientist. Adjunct professor jobs at Montana State University earn an average yearly salary of $95,380, Montana State University assistant professor jobs average $82,243, and Montana State University stationary engineer jobs average $72,636.

The lowest paying Montana State University roles include student employee and resident advisor. Montana State University student employee average salary is $24,689 per year. So while the average Montana State University salary is $38,814 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.

Highest paying jobs at Montana State University

RankJob titleAverage Montana State University salaryHourly rate
1Adjunct Professor$95,380$45.86
2Assistant Professor$82,243$39.54
3Stationary Engineer$72,636$34.92
4Data Scientist$63,450$30.50
5Systems Administrator$58,358$28.06
6Police Officer$54,688$26.29
7Adjunct Instructor$54,596$26.25
8PHD Researcher$52,391$25.19
9Computer Systems Analyst$52,229$25.11
10Post Doctoral Researcher$51,187$24.61
11Educator$50,731$24.39
12Maintenance Engineer$46,795$22.50
13Research Associate$46,389$22.30
14Accountant$43,265$20.80
15Accounting Analyst$43,055$20.70
16Academic Adviser$38,454$18.49
17Program Manager$38,267$18.40
18Business Operations Manager$37,625$18.09
19Graphic Designer$35,356$17.00
20Research Assistant$34,646$16.66

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Montana State University salaries by department

Salaries at Montana State University vary depending on the department you work in. Montana State University salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $53,932. Employees in the it department at Montana State University receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $48,747 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Montana State University include the retail and the administrative organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $29,925 and $30,570, respectively.

Average Montana State University salary by department

RankDepartmentAverage Montana State University salaryHourly rate
1Engineering$53,932$25.93
2IT$48,747$23.44
3Education$46,386$22.30
4Marketing$42,204$20.29
5Research & Development$39,973$19.22
6Accounting$39,855$19.16
7Finance$38,630$18.57
8Human Resources$37,545$18.05
9Healthcare$37,160$17.87
10Plant/Manufacturing$35,647$17.14
11Facilities$34,066$16.38
12Non Profit/Government$33,157$15.94
13Customer Service$33,100$15.91
14Hospitality/Service$31,080$14.94
15Administrative$30,571$14.70
16Retail$29,925$14.39

How much does Montana State University pay by department?

Best paying Montana State University education salaries

RankPositionAverage Montana State University salaryHourly rate
1Assistant Professor$82,243$39.54
2Education Consultant$80,990$38.94
3Adjunct Faculty$74,396$35.77
4Academic Advisement Director$70,475$33.88
5Adjunct Instructor$54,596$26.25
6Instructional Design Specialist$52,648$25.31
7Educator$50,731$24.39
8Student Teacher$43,930$21.12
9Education Program Manager$43,810$21.06
10Educational Program Director$39,744$19.11
11Vice Chancellor$38,679$18.60
12Strength And Conditioning Coach$34,844$16.75
13Graduate Teaching Assistant$34,492$16.58
14Extension Work Instructor$34,477$16.58
15Campus Coordinator$34,125$16.41
16Train Operator$33,217$15.97
17Career Coach$33,194$15.96
18Student Athlete$32,338$15.55
19Library Technician$31,967$15.37
20Strength And Conditioning Internship$31,425$15.11

Best paying Montana State University research & development salaries

RankPositionAverage Montana State University salaryHourly rate
1PHD Researcher$52,391$25.19
2Post Doctoral Researcher$51,187$24.61
3Research Associate$46,389$22.30
4Research Assistant$34,646$16.66
5Laboratory Technician$33,003$15.87
6Laboratory Assistant$31,994$15.38

Best paying Montana State University administrative salaries

RankPositionAverage Montana State University salaryHourly rate
1Medical Records Manager$45,538$21.89
2Administrator$45,252$21.76
3Internship Director$36,532$17.56
4Office Manager$36,180$17.39
5Library Technician$31,967$15.37
6Admissions Evaluator$31,921$15.35
7Office Assistant$31,726$15.25
8Administrative Assistant$31,679$15.23
9Admissions Specialist$31,611$15.20
10Payroll Technician$31,538$15.16
11Administrative Associate$29,800$14.33
12Desk Clerk$29,652$14.26
13Receptionist$28,691$13.79
14Student Internship$27,298$13.12
15Student Employee$24,689$11.87

Montana State University competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at Montana State University competitors, like University of California, Berkeley, University of Iowa Center for Advancement, and University of Washington, vary. University of California, Berkeley employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $68,472. The average salary at University of Iowa Center for Advancement is $55,411 per year, and the average salary at University of Washington is $53,857 per year.

Highest paying Montana State University competitors

RankCompany nameZippia scoreAverage salary
1University of California-Berkeley4.4$68,472
2University of Iowa Center for Advancement4.4$55,411
3University of Washington4.4$53,857
4South Dakota State University4.5$50,710
5University of Colorado Boulder4.0$50,128
6Washington State University4.3$50,045
7North Carolina A&T State University4.2$48,791
8Syracuse University3.5$48,753
9University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign4.6$46,880
10University of Idaho4.2$46,759
11Arizona State University4.0$45,751
12MSU Northern3.8$45,217
13University of Delaware4.2$44,379
14University System of New Hampshire4.3$41,446
15University of Wyoming4.5$40,799
16Northern Arizona University4.0$38,969
17University of Montana4.3$34,766
18Montana Tech3.9$34,395
19University of Maine3.9$34,056
20Utah State University3.9$33,051

Recently added Montana State University salaries

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Assistant Women's Softball CoachBillings, MT06/27/2025$26,000
Head Sports Performance Coach, Assistant Fitness Facilities ManagerBillings, MT06/20/2025$46,000
Rimrock Hall and Family Housing DirectorBillings, MT06/18/2025$43,117
Director of Disability Support ServicesBillings, MT06/04/2025$62,244
Major Gifts Officer for MSU Billings Foundation & AlumniBillings, MT06/04/2025$50,000

Frequently asked questions about Montana State University salaries

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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Montana State University, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Montana State University. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Montana State University. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Montana State University. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Montana State University and its employees or that of Zippia.

Montana State University may also be known as or be related to Associated Students of Montana State University, MONTANA SEED GROWERS ASSOCIATION, Montana State University, Montana State University, Bozeman and Montana University System.